United Kingdom

A Legacy of Innovation

The United Kingdom’s aviation heritage reaches back to the turn of the eighteenth century when a British engineer by the name of Sir George Cayley identified the four forces of aerodynamics – weight, lift, drag and thrust. He went on to create the first model of a modern aircraft with systems for lift, propulsion and control, and to this day is often referred to as the “father of aerodynamics.”

In the more than 200 years since Cayley put his vision to paper, aviation – thanks in large part to the continued contributions of British engineers, scientists, and pilots – has evolved in ways few could have imagined, culminating in the F-35 Lightning II.

The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy plan to operate 138 F-35B short
takeoff/vertical landing aircraft. Their training will take place at MCAS
Beaufort, South Carolina, where British pilots and maintainers will be embedded with the
U.S. Marine Corps and their fleet of F-35Bs. In February 2015, the RAF 17 Squadron,
which is responsible for the operational test and evaluation of the UK’s first
F-35s, was formally stood up at Edwards AFB, California.

A Revolutionary Capability

The United Kingdom has played integral role on the Joint Strike Fighter
since the program’s earliest days. Even before a final aircraft concept
was chosen, British engineers and test pilots were making their mark
on what would become a revolutionary capability. Under the desert sky at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., British test pilot left onlookers
awestruck as he took the X-35B prototype out for its first flight on June
23, 2001.

A mere four months later, after witnessing the aircraft’s impressive
performance, U.S. and U.K. defense officials announced Lockheed Martin’s
concept would go on to become the Joint Strike Fighter. In the years
since, the F-35 has continued to evolve. It’s advanced stealth, sensor
fusion, exceptional maneuverability, unmatched interoperability,
and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance
capabilities will provide the U.K. with a tactical airpower advantage for
decades to come.

The Lightning II will be the backbone of Britain’s future carrier
operations. As the first supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL)
fighter jet, the F-35B will provide vital 5th Generation
carrier-strike capabilities to the Royal Navy’s two new carriers – the HMS
Queen Elizabeth (christened July 4, 2014) and HMS Prince of Wales. These new Queen
Elizabeth Class Carriers are designed specifically for integration with the
F-35B aircraft, including a ski jump ramp for short takeoffs in place of the
traditional catapult launch. The F-35B also has the ability to operate from
land bases and remote locations, providing versatility that will revolutionize
the U.K.’s expeditionary combat power.